Customer Testimonials
Our customers often write to us to express their appreciation for the work we perform. Here is a selection of comments we have received:
" Just to let you know that we received the clock back safely yesterday afternoon and we are absolutely delighted!! Not only does the mechanism gleam and shine beautifully but you seem to have done a great job in cleaning and renovating the outside too! We are sure it will give us great pleasure hearing it gently ticking and sedately bonging on our side board for many years to come. " - Malcolm
"We were recommended to ask Michael Swift to repair three vintage watches which had not been used for a few years. We were delighted by the quality of the work carried out and the speed of turnaround." - Mike (Aberdeenshire)
"I made two attempts to have my wife's Tavannes gold watch repaired by watch repairers/jewellers in my area. One refused to even consider the job, stating that the part was no longer available and the second carried out a very expensive repair which failed within days. Came across Mr Michael Swift when searching the internet. What a revelation! A courteous, prompt and professional service provided by Mr Swift at a very reasonable price. The watch was returned to me and my wife is absolutely delighted. I would highly recommend Mr Michael Swift." - Ian
"I just wanted to drop you a quick note to thank you and your son for having done such excellent work on all the watches/clock I sent you! The cortebert in particular looks fantastic with the aged lime you have used. Your were also right about the skeleton hands on the Messerschmidt clock they look ace. I’m also very impressed with your regulation work - they are all running incredibly well." - Alistair
"Mr Swift serviced my grandfather's long-neglected 1960s Corum watch around 7 years ago (it's taken me that long to write a review) and this much later, it's still keeping perfect time. I peeked at the movement for the first time recently, and it was still as clean as a whistle. Very pleased with what must have been a very thorough and careful service, at an extremely reasonable price." - Ed
"When my son had fitted a new battery to a watch, the hands came off the watch face and he could not re-assemble the watch. Local watch repairer said the spindle was broken and could not be repaired. Sent it to Michael with the hands and parts in seperate bags. Arrived back safely working correctly. Yet another example of very good service at reasonable cost." - Philip
"After several years of fruitless searching for a satisfactory repair to our Seth Thomas ship’s clock, including several failed attempts by established clock/watch repairers, a friend suggested contacting Michael Swift. After exchanging e-mails we took a very pleasant trip to Rothesay and left the clock in your skilled hands. It was repaired without fuss and at very reasonable cost and now, six months on, it provides a true testamant to your service, skill and professionalism as it ticks away quietly and rings out at half hourly intervals. Thank you for your polite and excellent service which I can, without any reservation or hesitation, thoroughly recommend." - John
"Having tried to have my Seiko watch repaired at two local watch repairers and both of them saying they could not get a new movement, I sent the details of the watch to Michael. So searched on the computer for firms who repair Seiko watches. Michael is the best web site with many photos and text showing the workshop and what they can do, with prices. So I emailed him with details of the watch and he replied with an estimate which I accepted. Sent it to him on Monday morning and it was returned working correctly on Thursday. Very good service at a reasonable price." - Philip
"It is a real pleasure to deal with someone who has the expertise and personal approach of times gone by. The three latest watches, from a Seiko to an Omega that I sent you, were returned in such good condition, I remarked to my wife that they looked New again - but at a small fraction of the cost. I cannot remember how many you have serviced or repaired for me now, but the above is true in each case. Whenever I hear of anyone requiring service or repair to a watch or clock, I never hesitate in recommending you, telling them a quick phone call will suffice to see if you can help." - Bill
"I am just writing to thank you for the prompt and efficient service on the repairs to my watch. I found you by looking through the internet and on the basis of nothing ventured, nothing gained, contacted you. After speaking to you, within seven days the problem had been sorted and the watch returned to me fully working. To say that I was impressed with the service both on the phone and the cost and the little time that you had the watch would be an understatement.
It is indeed encouraging nowadays to encounter such speedy, efficient and personal service and I would certainlyrecommend you to family and friends should they require any clock and watch repairs in the future. Again many thanks for such excellent service and I will be in contact again if I have any other problems in the future." - Nick
"Thank you for repairing my Rotary chronometer wristwatch. At last I have found a genuine skilled Horologist, giving honest appraisals of work done, charging realistic prices.
As a collector of fine and rare wristwatches I must have exhausted the field of so called 'Repairers', most which start their estimates in three figures, irrespective of the work required.
Being a pensioner, your serivces remind me of the pre-war years: friendly, efficient, buisinesslike and skilled, a quality sadly lacking these days. Keep up the good work." - John
"How fortunate that, whilst on holiday in Bute, I came across a genuine, honest, polite gentleman who also repairs watches and clocks to the very highest standards.My Omega seamaster is now running perfectly, costing me afraction of what the dealer requested - and I know the watch has been serviced correctly. Jamie like his father, has just the same qualities. I hope the business continues to thrive. Thank you once again." - Graham
"It is very seldom that one has the opportunity and privilege to recommend unreservedly a craftsman such as Michael Swift,for his excellent painstaking skills in horology. Personally I have benefited from Michael Swift's most comprehensive knowledge of watchmaking since he moved to Rothesay.
My watch collection includes several antique/vintage pieces, some dating back to 1865, which without question benefited from the expert care and skill of Michael Swift. I can say in all honesty that if anyone can fix it it will be Michael-- if the part required is obselete he will do his best to obtain or manufacture the part himself if humanly possible.
A most positive and refreshing professional attitude, which is all too rare nowadays! I have no hesitation in recommending Michael Swift to anyone whose timepiece(s) require the BEST of ATTENTION." - Norman
"I am extremely pleased with your workmanship and impressed that your skill has transformed an old piece of junk lying about in a drawer into a marvellous working timepiece!
I also found the information you were able to provide regarding the watch, such as date of manufacture, type of watch, etc., to be of real value - I will not hesitate in bringing any future repairs to you and will reccommend you to friends and family!" - Grant
"For fifteen years Michael Swift has serviced and repaired clocks and watches dear to family and friends, and never once have we been disappointed. Need I say more?" - Rita
"Thank you for the repair - another success! Your service is much appreciated both for its quality and the honest and pleasant manner in which it is delivered!" - Robert
"Having collected watches, clocks and all manner of scientific instruments from around the world (and indeed travelled the world), it is refreshing to find that here on our very own door step we have Michael Swift. It is rare in today's fast moving world to find skill, dedication and service - but that is exactly what you get from Michael. That's why I have used his services for the past ten years." - Lorne
"I have met Michael Swift in person and in keeping with his character he combines exceptional workmanship with exceptional prices and personal service." - Simon
"No wonder my watches travel nearly 1000 miles round trip to Michael Swift! They get the best professional care and attention vintage watches deserve - beautifully cleaned and repaired!No job is too small for this Gentleman, whom I am pleased to say I have met twice now in person. May my collecting days continue with Michael's helpful guidance." - Caris
"In this environment of lack of concern for older objects and the impatient need to dispose of family relics 'that are no longer working' and so considered by some as 'useless', I believe these items are the cherished belongings of our antecedents, and it is really important to try to keep these things and protect them for future generations.
I truly value your efforts and believe that we have been lucky to find a real craftsman and it is refreshing that you are someone with a rare gift to carry out these repairs and the tolerance to do this on simple artefacts with no great intrinsic value but a personal association that is a great emotional comfort.
I will be recommending your services at any opportunity" - Andy
"It was a refreshing experience for me in these days of the 'throwaway society' that we live in to receive such a caring professional service! Great communications and repairs well documented, all repairs completed within budget and sooner than the stated time, with great care taken to pack the watches to survive the rigours of Royal Mail." - Dave
"I am absolutely delighted with the quality of your workmanship and the excellent prices that you have charged. I really cannot believe how good some of the watches now look." - Wasim
"I would just like to thank you for such a wonderful service. After the manufacturer of my wristwatch told me it could not be repaired I had all but given up hope. I was delighted to have my watch returned to me in perfect working order, and as good as new. It was a refreshing change to deal with a business that understands the customers needs and will do all they can to help (all at a very reasonable price). I will definitely recommend your services to family and friends." - John
"I would just like to thank you for such an excellent service and was delighted to have the Mickey Mouse watch returned to me in perfect working order. It was most refreshing to deal with a business that understands the customer's needs and carries out the required works at a very reasonable price. I will recommend your services to family and friends and look forward to using you again in the future. Many thanks again." - Roger
"Just had to write to thank you again for the watch you repaired for me - it arrived today whilst I was at work and I have just whizzed down to the collection office to pick it up. The strap you chose goes perfectly and it looks like a brand new watch - I am thrilled to bits with it. No doubt I will be in touch again with watch or clock issues and I will heartily recommend your excellent service to family and friends. Many thanks from a very happy customer." - Jean
"Michael Swift has repaired many of the watches in my collection, each to a very high standard and at reasonable rates. He has been very helpful and informative when spoken to on the telephone (I live in Cornwall).
I am very pleased with the professional service that is provided and would recommend contacting him should you have a problem with a timepiece." - Richard
"Thank you, Michael, for repairing our family watches - six to date - each has new life installed as well as looking good as new. From an old family silver pocket watch and old family ladies half hunter silver wrist watch with the old moire black ribbon strap, to a modern quartz watch(that a large retail watch shop quoted hundreds to send back to the maker and that Michael fitted a new battery to at very low cost). I highly recommend Michael Swift to you for excellent, personal, dedicated and expert service." - Jean
"Just a note to say thank you again for such a rapid and professional service. My fossil watch is once again as good as new, repaired and returned faster than I thought possible! If every business in the UK operated as you do we would be in a far better position than we are now." - John
"Many thanks Michael for the overhaul to my old (1958) Omega wristwatch. You have given it a new lease of life, as when I bought it (from a well known auction site), it was running about four minutes fast per 24 hours. It now runs perfectly, despite it's age.I would not hesitate in recommending you to anyone I know who has a watch for servicing. Once again, many thanks for the sterling work." - Derek
"Watches received today, thank you. We are over the moon to get them back and BOTH working - thank you so much. That little Ladies fob watch has not been running since my mother was a young girl, and it was given to her by my grand-mother. My late mother would have been so amazed to see it, thank you! Dad's old GSTP is back in it's old place, ticking away!
I cannot thank you enough for the time, trouble and expertise to get them 'up-and running' - a true time-piece expert - and at such a reasonable cost! To think we have been told time after time by so called 'Watch-Repairers', that the little ladies one 'will never run again, you can't get the parts, obsolete'
I would have no hesitation in recommending you to anyone. Friends will be informed anyway - any who have a timepiece for service/repair.
Again my sincere thanks." - Dave
"A first class service provided by a first class person. Mr Swift is most helpful over the phone - polite and obviously an expert in his field. My watch was repaired rapidly and perfectly at very reasonable cost and returned to me well packaged. I would not hesitate to use his services again. Many thanks." - John
